January 5, 2003-I Belong
January 12, 2003-The Big Deal About Repentance
January 26, 2003Our Most Necessary Spiritual Gift

January 5, 2003
I Belong

" Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
Ephesians 2:19-22
I Belong to God
" You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."I Corinthians 6:19-20
Access to the Father
Purpose through the Son
"… called according to his purpose…predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…" Romans 8:28-29
Transformation in the Spirit
I Belong in His Kingdom
" For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…" Colossians 1:13
God understands the pain of alienation
" He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering." Isaiah 53:3
God gives us the privilege of citizenship
I Belong with His Family
" I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Ephesians 3:14,15
A new heritage
A new "haustafeln"
" Submit to one another…Husbands, love your wives … Fathers, do not exasperate your children…masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them…"
Ephesians 5:21,25; 6:4,9
I Belong at His Church
" His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…" Ephesians 3:10

A place to worship

A place to grow

A place to minister

"When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All these must be done for the strengthening of the church." I Corinthians 14:26

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January 12, 2003
The Big Deal About Repentance

Luke 3:1 – 23
Repentance is …
" For everybody...he commands all people everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30
Not just really bad people
" Do you think that these …were worse sinners than all the other …because they suffered this way? I tell you no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13:2,3
Especially for those seeking spiritual refreshment
" Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" Acts 3:19
Repentance brings …
Forgiveness
" ...repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached..." Luke 24:47
" Repent of this wickedness and … he will forgive you" Acts 8:21-22
Life..."the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death"
Hebrews 6:1
" repentance unto life" Acts 11:18
" Repent and live!"Ezekiel 18:32
The desire to repent comes through…
God’s kindness
" God’s kindness leads you toward repentance" Romans 2:4
God’s conviction
Godly sorrow
" Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret" II Corinthians 7:10
Repentance is a change of …
Our mind
" Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15
Our direction
" Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall." Ezekiel 18:30
Our actions
" Repent and do the things you did at first" Revelation 2:5
" Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" Matthew 3:8
"...they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds..." Acts 26:20

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January 26, 2003
Our Most Necessary Spiritual Gift

 

But eagerly desire the greater gifts. I Corinthians 12:31
Acts 4:36-37 9:26,27 11:22-26 15:36-41
" If a man’s gift is …encouraging, let him encourage;" Romans 12:6,8
How to minister the gift of encouragement
Point people to the opportunity side of problems
" Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1:2-4
Speak prophetically to one another
" It [the church] was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord." Acts 9:31
" But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." I Corinthians 14:3
" For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." I Corinthians 14:31
" But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" Hebrews 3:13
Tell stories about what God is doing in your life
" Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard ? and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." Philippians 1:12-14
"… let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25

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